Top mountain biking Brit takes delivery of new Vivaro

NUMBER one mountain biking Brit racer Ben Thompson, the lynchpin of the Vauxhall-sponsored Mountain Trax Vauxhall Cycling Team, has taken delivery of a Brit-built Vivaro Limited Edition NAV double cab.

This Vivaro van will be used to get Ben and his team to and from races, and will also offer key support services during competitions.

The Mountain Trax team are no strangers to the Vauxhall Vivaro, having used them for the last five years. The team will make use of this Vivaro’s second row of seating and exceptional storage capacity to support Ben, as he seeks to consolidate his position as the British number one for long-distance marathon cycling.

As a leading long-distance marathon racer, mountain biking Brit Ben has to keep going for four to six hours at a time on gruelling 100km loop mountain courses. As such, his support vehicle must be durable and reliable, with races taking place across Europe at locations including the Cote d’Azur and the Swiss Alps and the Vivaro has excelled here.

In addition to the versatile space for all team members, bikes and spare parts, the Vivaro offers cruise control to support the driver on long journeys, also benefitting the model’s fuel economy, which typically surpasses 35mpg.

The economical engine provides strong acceleration, while the Vivaro’s chassis gives additional ride quality, altogether giving a more comfortable journey. Upgraded NAVI80 IntelliLink includes a seven-inch colour touchscreen, real-time traffic updates and connectivity for mobile devices including smartphones and tablets.

Talking about his new Vauxhall Vivaro van, Ben said: “I spend a lot of time at the wheel, and it takes a long time to drive across Europe. At least we stay comfortable in the Vauxhall Vivaro.”

Vauxhall Commercial Vehicles brand manager Brad Miller added: “We are pleased to continue our relationship with Ben and are excited to work with him as he continues to challenge at the very top.

“The Vivaro Limited Edition NAV is the perfect vehicle for the team, with its strong lifestyle credentials and expansive capacity for all their gear.”